potter



' (No Model.)

S. T. POTTER.

WASHING MAGHINEI' No. 352,711. Patented Nov. 16, 1886.

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o a a o a o o O o a a o WITNESSES INVENTOR (Q. J% J BY' J/(Lmm 2 ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS. Pnowumn n mr, Wuhingium up v li'NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN T. POTTER, MARSHALL, MISSOURI.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 352,711, dated November 16, 1886. Application filed February 17, 1886. Serial No. 192,215. (No model.)

.lo all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHENT. POTTER, of Marshall, in the county of Saline and'State of Missouri, have invented anew and Improved Washing-Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to that class of washing-machines wherein a revolving perforated drum is used, which is placed in a water-resthe ends of the drum, whereby the door may be opened by simply sliding itin said circular grooves. 1

The invention also consists in covering the slot in the reservoir, through which the'crankshaft of the drum passes,with a gate of special construction to prevent the escape of the water.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,

in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure lisalongitudinal sectional elevation of my new and improved washing-machine. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevationof the same, taken on the line on m, Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the'machine.

A represents the reservoir, B the perforated drum, and K represents the cover of the reservoir, arranged to be practially steam-tight, so that steam-pressure may be maintained in the reservoir.

The drum B is made cylindrical inform, and the body thereof is by preference made of finely-perforated galvanized iron. The ends of the perforated body of the drum have secured to them the circular head-pieces or disks 0 0', made by preference of imperforate sheet metal.

To the inner surface of the diskC is secured the grooved and curved casting D, and to the disk 0 is secured a corresponding casting, D. These castings are arranged near the peripheries of the disks, and at the ends of the opening E left in the body of the drum, through which clothes may be placed in and removed from the drum. In the grooves of the castings D D are held the ends of the door F, which is adapted to slide in the castings D D, for opening and closing the opening E. The edges of the door F are beaded or have secured to them the rods a a, for stiffening'the door; and for locking the door in a closed position I provide a spri-ng catch, (1, attached at one end of the body of the drum, and formed with a hook at the other, which hook is adapted to engage with the bead or rod a, or with anotoh or recess formed in the door F, for holding it in closed position. In this manner the door F is not a separate part of the drum, but is permanently connected to it, and the springcatch d effects a perfect locking of the ,door, so that there is no danger of the door opening of its own accord when'the machine is in operation. 1

To the center of the disk 0 is secured the gudgeon f, and to the center of the disk 0 is secured the short shaft or gudgeon f, to which the crank G' may beattached for revolving the drum. The gudgeon f, when the drum is. placed in the reservoir, is journaled upon the inwardly-projecting U-shaped flange y, secured to the inner surface of one end of the reservoir, and the gudgeon f passes through the slot h, formed through the opposite end of at its lower end to fit upon the gudgeon f, and

it is provided upon its outer surface with a packing, i,.of some soft material, such as felt or soft rubber; or I may use some incombustible soft packing.

For locking the gate H in position to close the slot h, I employa spring-button,j, pivoted to the plate, and of such length as to be adapted to span the slot h, so it will act not only to hold the gate in place, but to constantly force it outward or draw it firmly against the inner surface of the reservoir, for forming a watertight joint, and thus effectively prevent all leakage or escape of the water from the reservoir at or about the gudgeon f.

'The width of the button j is less than that of the slot h, so that itwill readily pass through the slot and permit the gate H and the drum B to be readily placed in and removed from the reservoir A.

Having thus described myiuvention. I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The washing machine consisting of the water-receptacle and theclothes-cylinderhung in the said receptacle and having a semicircular door or slide provided with a springcatch, said water-receptacle having in its end a vertical slot or opening, and the gudgeonsupporting plate held with its packing against the inside of said receptacle in alignment with said opening or slot, and the spring-button STEPHEN T. POTTER.

\Vitnesses:

CHAS. POTTER, CHAS. It. KRIEHN. 

